Reflecting device



- Jan. 14, 1930. .1. c. sTlMsoN- original Filed July 9, 1925 /Wmmv@.

Patented 311.14, i930 JONATHAN C. STIISON, l ST.LOUIS,

:surnomme `Mavica origina amputation. mamy s, 192s, semi No. 650,402. ,Divided mi 102s. semi naam-114.

This invention relates to reflecting devices, and more .particularly to devices employingv the principles and featuresiof'triple reflectors. This application Cis a division of ap- ,'piication Serial No. 65o, 402, filed July 9,

1923, Patent No. 1,671,086, May 22, 1928.

If three reiecting'surfaces are arranged to intersect at a common point with the refleeting surfaces' at right angles to each other,

so as to form in eifect the corner of a cube,

then ya beam incident on such a device is reected from surfacei to surface about the axis or center 'of the device and back along the incident beam; it may, therefore, be called a central triple reflector. Such a reflector has .the property of reflecting incident beams back to theirsource irrespective (wit-hin limits) of the angle of incidence of such abeain with respect to the axis.v Where the reflector is a go prism causing refraction of the incident beam,

to the axis can be increased while the oss of reilecte rays is decreased for any given angle of incidence. Such a reflector, howg5 ever, has limited application, for the reason that the reilected beam is'only observable on a line connecting the reflectorwith the light source. i

In order to permit the application ofa rethe limitinj angle of incidence (with respect iiector for practical purposes, it-is necessary that the reflection be observable within a chosen field or plane transverse of the axis of the reflector, so as to be visible to an observer lo- 'cated at a substantial distance outside of a line ronnecting the reflector with the light source; as for instance in the case of a driver of an automobile, whose eye is above or generall laterally of the-automobile headlight whic directs the light on such la reflector.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a reiector of the general character referred to, whoseA surfaces are so formed as to reect the impinging light .in

the form of a definite beam which is visible to the observer located a substantial distance outside of a line connecting the reflector with the source of light.,

Another object of this invention is to ro-v vide a reflector ofthe character descri d,

I0 whose surfaces are formed so as to'reilect the accompanying drawing, in which-'- 'viate progressively enna-11mm me my is.

impinging light in -theform of a definite spreading beam of substantially uniform ill-- tensity. 1 Another object is to provide a reflector of the character described, 1n which the reflected light is not onl spread but distributed throughout the fie d o spread. h

Another object is to provide multifunit reflectors of the character described, inf which the units are so formed and arranged as to cause the'spreadin fields of reflected light to mer e into a de nite spreading beam. v Furt erobjects will appear from the detail description taken in connectionwith the Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing onev embodiment of this invention 'Figure 2 is a similar view, showing another embodiment of this invention; and

Fi re 3 is a perspective view, showin a Amulti-unit reector employing units of eit er Figures 1 or 2.

enerally-stated, in accordance with this invention, the reflector is of the character in which a series of reflecting surfaces are arranged relatively at approximate right angles and -in a circuit around the reflector axis so that light impinging thereon from a distant source will be successively reflected by the surfaces about the axis and back in the general direction of the light source. One or more of the relfectin surfaces has or have portioiis thereof deviating suiciently from optically true right angular -viating suiiiciently from a true opltical e re relation and delane as to cause a definite s read of t ected out its field of spread ite'spreadin beam of light uniformly throu in order to direct a de l substantially uniform intensity bac towards and visible to an observer located a substantial distance outside of a line connecting the reflector with the la' ht source. l

In accordance wit one embodiment of this invention, one or more of the reflecting sur-.- faces is or are curved so as to be convex or vals concave with respect to the axis so as to -defrom optically true right ailigular relation and from a true opticaly ane.

PA series of ther'eector units constructed 100 as described, may be arranged in contiguous as 'described in Patent No. 1,591,572,1Iu1y 6,I

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, in Figurel one or more of the reflecting surfaces lO'is or are convex with respect to the axis, while in Figure 2 one or more of the reflecting surfaces is or are concave with respect to thev axis. It will, of course, be'

understood that such curvature is slight, and is exaggerated in the drawing for the purpose zo of illustration.. The curvature is such and made so progressively from the axis outwardly as to secure the desired spread of .the beam and the desired uniformity of light distribution. In this case the surfaces maybe '25 made smooth, sincetlie spread is secured by the progressive variation of a curved surface from that of a plane surface. As previously described, the reflector may be eit er of the hollow type,.in which the reflectin surfaces .o are mirrors, or the reflector may e a glass prism having totalreflecting surfaces.

In Figure 3 is shown a prismatic plate 11 provided with a series of reflectors 12 of the character heretoforedescribed on the back u thereof, and arranged in contiguous relation to form togethers reflector. This prisinatic plate may be formed of pressed glass 1n a .manner heretofore described, so as to secure the advantageous results heretofore referred to. By grouping these reflectors in coi-itigu ous relat1on over the reflecting face, varying orientations of the unit reflectors with respect toany given beam are secured. In view of the fact that the reflector units are arranged in contiguous relation, with each unit constructed as heretofore described, the spreading fields of light from the several units merge into a definite spreadin beam. Ac-

the direct line between cordingly the. angular range o the device is much greater than where the simple triple reflector is used. l

This invention is applicable to signs illuminated from an extraneous source of light,

specific uses of suchsigns being road signs,

danger signals at railroad. rade crossings and at curves, and-tail lights or automobiles, all of which secure their illumination from extraneous 4sources such as automobile or other head li lits. l This invention is particularly applica le for such uses; for where, for instance, a road sign or signal is illuminated by -an automobile headlight the spread of sufficient so as to be whosey eye is notth`e reector and gerated, for the the head light, butiabove or laterally of such line. The principle of operation of the reflectorwill be understood from Figures 1 and 2 and also from the complete exposition of a reflector of this character as set forth in Patent light 2 (which may b e an automobile head- 1`ight)` impinging upon the reflector will be successive y reflected by the surfaces about the axis and lback in the generaldirection of the light source. On accolit of the deviation of one or more of the surfaces from optically true right angular relation and from an optical plane, there will be a definite spread of the reflected light uniformly throughout its fieldv of spread in order to direct a definite spreading beam-of substantiall uniformintensity back towards and visi le to an observer located a substantial distance outside l' of a line connecting thereflector with the Alight source. In Figures 1 and 2, the limiting rays of the beam are shown at 9 and are observable by the eye 90located as shown, or at any point within the cone encompassed by the beam; for the` field will be com letely filled with reflected light. According thc driver of an automobile will be able to see the reflector even though his eyes may be above or laterally of the headlight. Itfvvill, .of course, b e understood that the surface deviations are `com aratively slight and that the spread of the eam is correspondingly slight. As a matter of fact, the deviation of the surfaces and the spread of the beam as a result thereof are in practice made to conform to' the re-- uirements of the particular service for which t e reflector may e designed. In Figures 1 and 2, this spreadis shown somewhat exagpurpose of more clearly illustrating the principles of this invention.

It will be understood that various features and sub-combinations are of utilit v and are capable of practical employment independent of other features and sub-combinations; that is contemplated by and is Within the scope of the appended claims. It is further obvious that variousclianges may be made in details withoutdeparting from the `spirit of this invention; it is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described. V

Havin thus described` `the invention, what is c aimed'is: c

A reflecting device of the character described, comprising, a series of reflecting surfaces arran ed relatively generally at approximate right angles around the axis thereof, one or more of the reflecting surfaces be@ zing curved substantially as and for the pur- No. 1,671,086. A beam 8 from a source of i 'ici ' of, one or more ofthe ,reflecting surfaces curvproximate right the axis.

ing in the lgeneral direction alon aracter de- 4. A reiiecting device -of the c scribed, comprising, a series of reflecting sur-" imacat to an observer located a substantial distance `outside a line connecting` the reectorwith the light source.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature this 16th da faces arranged relatively generally at ap-- proximate right angles around the axis thereof, one or more of the reflecting surfaces being convex with respect to the axis.

5. A reiecting device of the character described, comprsin a series of reflecting surfaces arranged re atively 'generally atl approximate right angles around lthe axis thereof, one -or more of the relectin `surfaces be- .ing convex in tlie' general direction along and with respect to the axis.

6. A reflecting device ofthe .character described, comprising, a Iseries of reflecting sur.- faces arranged relatively. generally at 'approximate right angles around the axis thereof, one or more .of the reecting surfaces devi- 'ating progressively from optically true right angular relation and from a true optical plane. e

7. A reflecting device of the character described, having a series of reflecting units arranged in contiguous relation, each of said units comprising a series of reflecting sur` faces Aarranged relatively generally at approximate right angles around its axis, one

or more ofthe reflecting surfaces of each unit deviating rogressively from. optically ,true right angu ar relation and from a true optical plane. v

8. A reflecting device of the characterdel scribed, having a series of reflecting units arranged-in contiguous relation, each of said units comprising a series of reflecting surfaces arrangedrelatively generally at apangles around its axis,one or more of the reflecting surfaces of eachUu'nit being-convex in the generaldirection along and with respect to its axis.

= the character described, comprising,;lf`liseries of reflecting surfaces arranged relatively at approximate 9. A reecting devieof right angles vand 'in a circuit 4around the reflector axis so that light impingiiig thereon. i

source, one or more of said surfaces deviatiiig from a distant source-'will be successively r'eflected by said surfaces about lsaid. axis and back in the .general direction of the light sufficiently from optically true right angular relation and deviating as a whole suciently from a true optical plane as to cause a definite spread -of the reilected lightl uniformly throughout its field of spread in 'order tov di- 'i rect a definite spreading beam of substantially uniform intensity back towards and visible of Ma 1928-.-

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